After ten years of wrangling over the future of The Croft and the seven acres of parkland, Longhurst Group was given planning permission in December 2009 to convert the house and grounds into a residential estate of 68 bungalows for elderly retired people at a cost of £8 million and work began in May 2011.

By the summer, a show house and sales office had been erected at the entrance to the site in the style of the bungalows to be built on the estate but additional planning permission was required. The public was then invited in to see it and arrange a possible purchase.

The estate is a joint project with Keystone Developments. Prices for the homes will range from £145,000 for a one-bedroom bungalow to £279,995 for a three-bedroom chalet. Initial reaction was good with 70 visitors in the first ten days and Jason Colmer, sales director of Larkfleet Homes, said that four properties had already been reserved and it was hoped that by the spring of 2012, ten people would have moved into the estate which was scheduled for completion by September 2013.

The house itself will be refurbished as part of the scheme and converted for use as a community centre. "It will be the base for everyone living on the estate", he said, "with a communal lounge and dining room as well as IT facilities, a sun room, laundry and more. There will also be a guest suite on the first floor where relatives and friends can stay and a consultation room is also planned which can be used for hairdressing, aromatherapy or even a visiting osteopath, whatever facilities the residents choose."

The developers have also promised that the Victorian lamp standards salvaged from the railway station at Bourne and erected by a past owner to light the main driveway will be restored. "Landscaping with open grass, trees and shrubs would also be a major ingredient in providing a highly attractive setting for the proposed 68 bungalows which will be entirely appropriate to this part of Lincolnshire", said a spokesman.

The development was officially opened by the Mayor of Bourne, Councillor Brenda Johnson, on Monday 24th October 2011 when she cut a ribbon across the entrance. By this time, the sales office was open daily at the entrance bungalow and visitors were being welcomed. The ceremony was attended by Karl Hick, managing director of Larkfleet Homes and Bob Walder, CEO of Longhurst Group and was followed by a buffet lunch.

By mid-summer 2012, work on the project was well ahead with several units completed and restoration of the main house underway and in July that year, The Croft was named for a national award. The age-exclusive retirement development by Larkfleet Homes and Keystone Developments won a HAPPI (Housing our Aging Population Panel for Innovation) Award at the National Housing Design Awards.

The award celebrates the innovative approach to the design of older people's housing with a specific focus on the users' living experience. The judges decided that the development met the government's objectives in helping the older population live a longer and happier life. By attracting the older generation to new exclusive retirement developments such as The Croft, the current housing crisis is also helped as larger houses are made available for growing families.

Larkfleet's managing director Karl Hick was present at the awards ceremony to collect the winners' certificate. He said: "The Croft provides an outstanding environment for retirement living. It is the perfect place to live for people who prefer enjoying life rather than having the worries associated with managing a home. 'The history of the site, coupled with the high quality properties and excellent grounds maintenance, will help sustain property investments and the future value of the homes."

He said that The Croft is well situated with many local amenities including a supermarket, doctor's surgery and a bus stop which are only a short walk away, as are many shops and restaurants. With so many excellent facilities in the area, such as a nearby leisure centre, residents can easily pursue activities such as golf, gardening, craft groups and health and well-being classes.

PROGRESS ON THE PROJECT
A show house and sales office built at the entrance to the site opened in July 2011 in the style of the bungalows to be built on the estate but additional planning permission was required. The public was then invited in to discuss the project and a possible purchase.
By July 2012, work was well advanced on the estate and on the main house while some of the units at the Maple Gardens entrance were already occupied (below).
Work was nearing completion in May 2013 (below).

REVISED MAY 2013

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